Eliminating High Fructose Corn Syrup
I'm not going to get into the stats showing how HFCS is bad for you just check out this website. We try very hard to avoid the nasty stuff. When we drink sodas we drink Sierra Mist made with real sugar and it is so much better tasting than the other lemon lime drinks. I don't buy very many processed foods but sometimes I'll have a recipe that calls for corn syrup and It just kills me to have to use it. So I decided to make my own out of sugar........
I looked for recipes on the web and found a lot of different ones. Some had 80/20 sugar to water others had a 50/50 ratio. Some had baking soda or cream of tarter. Some were brought to 240 degrees and others to a long slow boil. What should have been a quick and easy task turned out to be a real nightmare. I mean sugar and water how hard can it be right.........wrong. I tried three different times before I got it right.
Lets start with failure #1. This one had 80/20 sugar to water ratio and was brought to 240 degrees with no stirring and then taken of the heat.
Failure #2 was the same recipe as #1 only with cream of tarter added. I don't know how I'll ever get it out of the jar.
The third time worked.....thank the good Lord. I used equal parts water to sugar. First place the water in a pan on the smallest burner you have on low. Add 1/4 tsp of citric acid granules this will keep it from recrystallizing. Now slowly stir in the sugar making sure it is completely dissolved. Continue stirring until it comes to a very low boil at this point you have simple syrup. Now set the timer for 5 minutes and don't stop stirring. Remove from heat and let cool, it will thicken as it cools. Then place it into a jar. You can store this for a few months. I like to make mine as I need it.
I suggest you practice with a small a mount first so you won't waste sugar like I did. And just remember low and slow...stir, stir, stir and don't let it come to a full boil.
Note: 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water and 1/4 tsp citric acid=1 cup of sugar syrup.
I hope you found this post helpful...If you have any suggestions or advice on this subject please leave a comment : )
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Thanks for the post! I love having options. We only drink the Sierra Mist Natural too!
ReplyDeleteHalleluyah! You go girl! I never allowed my kids to have pop except for special occasions but we did have lemonade and sweet tea but that was in the day before HFCS too. Thanks for going to all this work. My kids are grown and they did not follow in my footsteps at all. So, I tried but they have their own kids now and think I'm "nuts" I guess.
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome. Thanks for linking up to me but for some reason your link isn't working. I'll stop over to In Linkz and see if it is a problem on their end. Sarah
ReplyDeleteGreat idea!
ReplyDeleteHey, thanks! I've been wondering how to do this. I figured there was a way, but hadn't gone to the trouble yet to figure it out. Looks like I don't have to now! Sweet!
ReplyDelete~~Lori
I love it! Found you via simply sweet home and am following you now :)
ReplyDeleteI have used CandiSyrup, Inc's Simplicity syrup as a substitute for HFCS. It works really well too. You can find it online. I even like using there darker syrup for Pecan Pie.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Thanks for linking up to Southern Sundays! Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteThanks for doing all the research for us!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Thank you! I can't wait to try this recipe! I am popping over from The 36th Avenue Linky Party.
ReplyDelete~Robyn
Great Post and your recipe will be awesome to have. Hope you are having a great week and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
ReplyDeleteCome Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Awesome idea! Much healthier than HFCS, for sure! And thanks for sharing the two tries that didn't work out as well so we don't make those mistakes. I'm really glad you linked this up to The Fun In Functional!
ReplyDeleteI featured this today on my blog; thanks so much for sharing it! Feel free to grab a featured button if you'd like! http://practicallyfunctional.net/2012/06/features-from-the-fun-in-functional-2/
DeleteWow! I never would've thought to make my own, but it's so easy! Thanks for sharing your recipe (and you're failed attempts as well!) And thanks for linking up at Tiny Tip Tuesday!
ReplyDeleteOh what a great idea! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThat's cool! What a great tip! Thanks so much for sharing at Mom On Timeout!
ReplyDelete